Redemption”: Slick action, empty plot

I can definitely say this about The Raid: Redemption: The 15-year old version of myself absolutely loved it. He can’t stop raving about the brutal action sequences, the dubstep-infused score and the tough-guy performances that feature more punches than lines of dialogue. If he could, he’d skip class and watch every screening of the film, hoping that just a bit of its awesomeness would seep through the screen and grant him butt-kicking powers.

A more discerning filmgoer looking for an action movie with a hint of story, however, might not walk out of The Raid: Redemption with the same enthusiasm.

The Indonesian import follows a band of elite cops, including rookie Rama (Iko Uwais), sent into a massive apartment complex run by a sadistic drug lord (Ray Sahetapy). At first, the team’s goal is to arrest the murderous kingpin, but after they’re discovered and the residents begin attacking, the mission becomes far simpler: survive, using whatever combination of kicks, punches and bullets necessary.

It’s easy to see why the film became a hit at the Toronto International Film Festival, winning the People’s Choice Award in the Midnight Madness category. It’s an unapologetic jolt of adrenaline and testosterone. There’s barely five minutes that go by without somebody getting thrown into a wall or dodging a machete blade.

Luckily, director Gareth Huw Evans has a keen eye for action and choreography. In a Jason Bourne age, where shaky footage and quick edits are often more valuable than seeing what the heck is going on, it’s a relief to see an action film where the camera sits still for a while and allows the audience to appreciate the physical skill on display.

The performers are impressive, putting on a brutal ballet of blood and broken bones. They slither and twist their limbs out of holds and throw all of their energy into each fight sequence. It’s hard to believe anyone survived the making of The Raid: Redemption.

Evans gets to show off some of his directorial skills as well. As many fight scenes rage down corridors and into abandoned apartments, he nimbly tilts and swivels the camera, following the action with ease. He even sneaks in a few genuinely breathtaking shots. One memorably haunting sequence shows a shotgun blast briefly illuminating a corridor for the cops’ enemies.

As cool and viciously slick the action is, it becomes unfortunately difficult to find a reason to care. There are barely any characters of note, and the few characters the audience is introduced to are hardly given any dialogue or time to make an impact. In the lead, Uwais does a decent job with his few dramatic scenes, but they don’t last long before another action setpiece breaks out.

The story is equally light. The premise sounds identical to a video game plot and plays out in just about the same way. An early mission briefing is reminiscent of an opening cutscene, laying out the team’s plan and “boss” characters that will inevitably need to be defeated.

I’m not saying the plot needed to be Inception, but something else going on besides “character A shoots character B” would have been appreciated. The Raid: Redemption does attempt a few small twists near the climax, but they’re convoluted and unsatisfying.

Plot isn’t really what the movie is about, however. It’s about punches and kicks, and that’s what the enjoyable but empty The Raid: Redemption delivers. The 15-year-old me has nothing but glowing things to say about it, but the same thing can be said for Hot Pockets.

The Raid: Redemption opens Friday and is playing at the AMC Mayfair Mall, Landmark Oriental Theatre, and Marcus Cinemas.